Everyone knows that the Marlins series embarrassed the Rockies. But did it expose them as well? The Rockies want to believe they are contenders, a status that has a lot more to do with the company they are keeping in the National League West than the way they are playing.

The Rockies entered the weekend 37-50 since their 13-4 rocket launch in April. They haven’t been good for a long time. So the fact that they have not been able to capitalize on this 10-game homestand shouldn’t be entirely surprising.

What has been shocking is why the Rockies are failing. Their hitting in July has been historically bad. They scored eight runs against the Marlins, their lowest total ever in a four-game home series. The next lowest: 13 runs. That speaks to the horribly timed drought.

There are a number of reasons for the slump, starting with too many easy outs in the lineup, the lingering injuries and rustiness of Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Dexter Fowler and the youthful regression of Nolan Arenado and even Wilin Rosario (at least from a power standpoint).

It raises the fair question of whether or not the Rockies should be sellers before Wednesday’s nonwaiver trade deadline. The Rockies always run down parallel tracks at this time of the year, prepared to go either direction. They don’t publicly talk about moving players for a good reason: The team has been in the hunt this year, and it’s not good business to talk about getting rid of players when you’re still selling tickets for August and September games.

The Rockies have three players that opposing scouts are monitoring in case Colorado opens for business. The first is Jorge De La Rosa. In a weak starting pitching market, De La Rosa is a left-handed power arm with a 2.97 ERA in 121-plus innings. He is fully recovered from elbow surgery and has limited left-handed hitters to a .195 batting average. He has an $11 million club option for next season, the final year in his contract.

That’s an extremely reasonable price for a top-of-the-rotation starter. I’d be a lot more open to trading De La Rosa if the Rockies had notable replacements ready in the minors. But they don’t.

The top arms in the farm system include Chad Bettis, who should be in the big leagues in September, and Eddie Butler, a hard thrower at Single-A Modesto who made the Futures All-Star Game. Bettis profiles better as a closer or late-inning reliever. Butler has a power arm and could land a veteran starter more easily than replace one. Jonathan Gray, the team’s top draft pick this year, is at least a couple of years away from the big leagues. It’s why keeping De La Rosa and exercising his option makes the most sense.

A harder choice, given the Rockies’ emotional attachment to both, exists with relievers Matt Belisle and Rafael Betancourt. Belisle has been an ironman for three seasons. He has shown signs of wear this year, but could fit in a lot of bullpens. Here’s the issue: He and Betancourt have $4.25 mutual options for next season. It’s hard to see the Rockies keeping both with Rex Brothers prepared to take over as the closer and Mitchell Boggs potentially in line for a setup role.

Betancourt is out with an appendectomy, so trading him while on the disabled list would be a little tricky. It’s impossible to overstate Betancourt’s leadership and professionalism in the clubhouse. It’s why the Rockies didn’t move him a year ago when they were buried in the standings. Still, if the Rockies are hesitating on bringing back Belisle or Betancourt, they have to keep the phone lines open.

Ideally, the Rockies would add, not subtract, and get aggressive with their resources.

It would run against their own pattern, but jarring this team would be a welcome move, like a surprise Christmas bonus. Put some prospects in play — such as pitchers Tyler Anderson and Tyler Matzek — to get a bat or a proven arm. All big-league teams will receive more than $50 million in national TV money next season. The Rockies have a draft and development philosophy. That’s reasonable.

But part of its function should be to use those resources to add other parts. Keeping a prospect too long doesn’t help anyone — the player, the big-league team or the franchise.

It’s no secret that the Rockies were demoralized by their showing against Miami last week. This week offers a chance for the front office to provide a lift. Add a proven bat or another starting pitcher who isn’t a rental player.

It would make this season more interesting and put the Rockies in better position to contend next year.

Background: Rodriguez is 38, coming off hip surgeries and controversies. He can’t get out of his own way. He has been on the disabled list the entire season. He wants to play. The Yankees would prefer he not. It has led to a soap opera worthy of the 1970s Yankees.

What’s up: The Yankees and Rodriguez don’t have a love-hate relationship. Hate-hate is more accurate. Their disdain for each other is palpable, if not comical. A-Rod was set to make his season debut last week when he mentioned he had a quadriceps injury. He figured he would join the team at Texas and be examined. The Yankees sent him to New York, where their doctor diagnosed a Grade 1 strain, stopping A-Rod’s journey back to the active roster. A-Rod, without consulting the team, got a second opinion from a doctor who has connections to steroids. That led to a conference call with A-Rod, the Yankees’ general manager, team president and A-Rod’s attorney. Sounds about right.

Renck’s take: The race is on. Rodriguez hopes to be activated Aug. 7 or Aug. 8. The Yankees would love for him to be suspended for his connection to the Biogenesis scandal before then, allowing MLB to do its dirty work. This is an issue about buyer’s remorse. The Yankees want to save a little face — and a chunk of the more than $100 million left on A-Rod’s contract. A-Rod isn’t going to retire or go away quietly. He will challenge any suspension, knowing a lifetime ban is a real possibility. Without a suspension, the Yankees will be forced into a corner. Is it better just to eat the money on A-Rod’s contract to make him someone else’s problem? The amount is insane and historic, but the Yankees made a mistake. They re-signed him thinking he would break Barry Bonds’ home run record on their watch. Outside of the 2009 playoffs, A-Rod has been a constant headache. They couldn’t buy a slugger. It’s time to buy peace and just cut ties.

Troy joined The Denver Post in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role before the 2015 season. He is a past president of the local chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America and has won more than 20 local and national writing awards since graduating from the University of Colorado journalism school with honors in 1993.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.